Metropolitan State University of Denver

Metropolitan State University of Denver provides students with a transformative academic experience and serves the community as a courageous change agent and a gateway to opportunity. The University’s broad access, affordable tuition, quality academic experience and excellent outcomes add up to a high-value education.

Founded in 1965, MSU Denver is a comprehensive university offering bachelor's and master's degrees on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver. With an enrollment of more than 21,000, MSU Denver educates more undergraduate Coloradans than any other four-year institution in Colorado. Nearly 75 percent of our alumni live and work in the state.

Broad Accessibility

MSU Denver’s student population mirrors the ethnic demographics of the state, making the University the leader in diverse enrollment among Colorado’s four-year universities. Among full-time faculty members, 22 percent are professors of color. The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education ranks MSU Denver among the top 100 colleges and universities nationwide for enrolling Latino students. Diverse: Issues in Higher Education ranks MSU Denver among the top 100 institutions in the nation in awarding bachelor’s degrees to students of color. Of the students eligible for in-state tuition under Colorado ASSET, 43 percent are enrolled at MSU Denver.

With more than 200 degree options, MSU Denver designs every program and class to help students develop the intellectual and professional skills needed to meet the challenges of the 21st century economy. MSU Denver is Colorado’s leader in providing STEM education to students of color, with more than 1,900 studying STEM subjects. And, students of color and low-income students together comprise 64 percent of the University’s STEM students.

Exceptional Education

MSU Denver regularly ranks among the top colleges and universities in Colorado. The University was rated No. 638 overall and No. 108 in the West in Forbes’ 2014 America’s Top Colleges list. The rating recognizes the return on investment MSU Denver provides its students. According to Military Times, MSU Denver is the top Colorado college for veterans, ranking 32nd overall on its list of the nation’s Best for Vets: Colleges 2015. MSU Denver also was ranked as a STEM Jobs-Approvedsm College 2015. The Wall Street Journal in 2014 named two MSU Denver faculty members among the nation’s 125 most influential professors. Darrin Duber-Smith and Erick Erikson were two of only six Colorado professors recognized with this honor.

Excellent Outcomes

A $60 million Aerospace and Engineering Sciences Building will bring together aviation and aerospace science; civil, mechanical and electrical engineering technology; computer information systems and computer science; and industrial design. More than 2,400 MSU Denver students are enrolled in these disciplines. The University has the second-largest teacher-preparation program in Colorado. The award-winning Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center provides hands-on learning opportunities for students studying Hospitality, Tourism and Events.

The College Measures report shows MSU Denver’s bachelor’s degree graduates have one of the highest median first-year earnings among grads from many other four-year institutions in Colorado. The MSU Denver internship program offered through the Applied Learning Center helps students get on-the-job experience in more than 1,200 internships at 600 local businesses and organizations every year.

Affordable Tuition

MSU Denver believes that a great education doesn’t have to be expensive and that accessibility begins with affordability. Our tuition is the least expensive of Colorado’s largest four-year universities offering undergraduate degrees. Affordable Colleges Online lists MSU Denver as one of the country’s most affordable large public colleges while the Online College Database lists MSU Denver among the most financially effective of all Colorado post-secondary schools.

MSU Denver holds day, night, weekend and online courses at the downtown Auraria Campus and at its two suburban satellite campuses, MSU Denver South and MSU Denver North.

Metropolitan State University of Denver takes a pro-active approach to its efforts and supports and values diversity in all forms (age, race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, ability, sexual orientation, religion, intellectual differences and gender identity and expression) in a teaching and learning community marked by mutual respect, inclusion, and cooperation. The Office of Institutional Diversity works to uphold the values of the college mission and serves as a resource to the Metropolitan State University of Denver community by providing leadership and oversight on issues related to Inclusive Excellence. Please see our complete statement by clicking here.